Where should we start with our home renovations, considering the need for new floors, a kitchen overhaul, and repainting throughout, while aiming to save money and do as much work ourselves as possible?
Hey guys, I could really use some help here. We’ve got a bunch of things we want to do around the house but I have no idea where to even begin. I’ll list everything out below, but I’m feeling pretty lost about what to tackle first and how to even get started. We’re hoping to do as much of this ourselves as we can.
1. Floors – I’m thinking of putting luxury vinyl flooring throughout the house, except for the kids’ rooms which will keep carpet.
– The tile in our bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room is a mess – it’s cracked and just not a good look. We want it gone ASAP.
– The hardwood in our dining and living room is in bad shape, all scratched up and warped near the back door from a leak we had to fix (door’s been replaced though).
– Bedrooms and closets have carpet.
2. Kitchen – our kitchen is tiny and has zero counter space.
– Countertops need to be replaced.
– Considering getting rid of or completely redoing the cabinets.
– The tile goes all the way under the cabinets, which is a headache to deal with.
– I’m all for tearing the whole thing down but my
Always finish the floors last.
Let’s demo and redo the kitchen first, then tackle the painting, and finally the floors. Have you considered redoing the entire kitchen? Even if you’re just refinishing cabinets, it’s best to take them down… so why not just go all out and start fresh. The old tile will keep cracking, so it’s better to remove it all. Instead of trying to salvage old items, it’s often best to redo everything properly.
I’m thinking about redoing the entire kitchen.
Go ahead and tear it all down. It’ll definitely make things easier.
I’m thinking of doing the same thing, , but I have two weight-bearing walls to deal with. I’m considering installing two beams with an island in between.
Hey , consider getting advice from an engineer on the best way to proceed. I think you should go for it! Who wants an ugly kitchen, right? 😂
Start with the kitchen – see if you can create more space by removing a wall, closing a window, or rearranging the plumbing. Be mindful of overspending on light fixtures or hardware; opt for quality cabinets that are not custom-made to save money. Wood finishes are more cost-effective than painted ones and last longer; granite is cheaper than quartz and more durable, with a wide range of styles available. Consider using granite for a 4″ or full backsplash instead of tile, which may look outdated in a few years. Ensure that your kitchen, living room, and dining room have a cohesive style and color scheme by painting them all at once. Preserve hardwood floors by extending them into the kitchen and primary bedroom, then refinishing them to a single color. When renovating bathrooms, tackle them one at a time and replace the flooring with tile instead of luxury vinyl. Luxury vinyl is best suited for homes on a concrete slab or for dens with exterior access. Although it may feel like a daunting task, approach each project one step at a time and keep a binder with photos, prices, and samples, while also obtaining multiple quotes.
LVP flooring is suitable for laying over tile and hardwood. No need to demolish either floor. Start with Luan underlayment and then proceed with LVP.
Our tile is in bad shape, it’s cracked and uneven. Whoever installed it in 2009 did a terrible job. We’ve had 3 people come to give quotes and they all agree that the tile needs to come up.
I’ve noticed all the comments, but keep in mind the general rule… bathrooms and kitchens tend to be the most costly areas to renovate. They almost always end up costing more than anticipated.
To avoid redoing the entire kitchen, think about using a tile blade with an oscillating tool or saw to cut the tile at the cabinets before removing them. This will give you a straight line to connect the new floor to without any worries about what’s underneath the cabinets. You can even rent tools that make the process of removing tile much faster.
If you prefer a budget-friendly option, consider learning to DIY.
That seems like a lot to tackle at once!! I suggest starting by patching and painting one or two rooms at a time. It’s the fastest way to start feeling better! Use flat or satin white paint for the ceilings and a neutral off-white or beige color for most of the walls. You can choose to do the kids’ rooms and bathrooms differently.
For the kitchen: if your cabinets are still in good condition, you can paint them and then add laminate pre-done countertops if they fit your layout. You can find these at big box stores.
After that, focus on the floors. If you go with LV rigid core planks, you might be able to install them directly over the existing tile. It depends on the situation…
Finally, consider getting new vanities and toilets
Make sure to paint first!
If there’s a habitat for humanity resale shop nearby, consider doing some shopping there to help with your budget.
I suggest beginning with painting. Take care of patching and priming your walls. If painting the ceilings, do them first – use a flat white ceiling paint (usually thicker to prevent dripping). Next, paint the trim so you can be a bit more casual and cover any mistakes when painting the walls. My wife and I are currently in the middle of renovating our kitchen. In NH, we received a quote of $40k+ for basic cabinets and granite counters. Instead, we chose to DIY. Consider consulting a kitchen designer to cleverly plan things out. Installing cabinets isn’t as hard as you may think. Be ready to be kitchen-less for 2-8 weeks depending on budget/time. Since you have a long list, it may be useful to get some estimates to financially plan things out. Feel free to reach out if you want to chat more. My wife and I have completed most of the tasks you mentioned since buying our house in May.
Do the flooring last. You don’t have to be super careful fixing the other stuff. You can tackle one room at a time. Just double-check you have enough flooring and safeguard the exposed edges from damage. Avoid selecting flooring that is too thin and leads to unsightly gaps at the door jambs. It’s something you won’t want to live with. Take off your baseboards before laying down the flooring.
To begin, I suggest patching, priming, and repainting. Remove all flooring except for the carpet in the kids’ rooms that you plan to keep. Using waterproof vinyl throughout will not only create a more cohesive look but also make your rooms appear more spacious. Concerning the cabinets, have you considered if they are salvageable or if they need to be refaced?
Can you share some pictures with us?
We recently completed renovating a house with plaster walls. The kitchen walls were quite damaged, so we had to tear them down. While we still have limited counter space, it is much more functional now. We installed LVP flooring throughout the house, and we completed one room at a time before moving on to the next. We decided to keep the upper kitchen cabinets. The best wall primer we found was from the Zinnser brand. Here is a glimpse of our kitchen.
We decided to put up some beadboard on the walls because there were several layers of wallpaper to remove. The house was constructed in 1948.
This happened prior to the demolition.